eved what she said, having forgotten
that once she looked upon me as her enemy. This indeed I never was, who
always held her in high regard and honour as a great lady who loved
her country, though one who sometimes was not wise. But as I could not
foresee these things on that night of long ago, I only stared at the
Prince and said:

"Oh! why did you not allow me to depart as your Highness said I might at
the beginning? Soon or late my head will pay the price of this night's
work."

"Then she must take mine with it. Listen, Ana. I kept you here, not to
vex the Princess or you, but for a good reason. You know that it is the
custom of the royal dynasties of Egypt for kings, or those who will
be kings, to wed their near kin in order that the blood may remain the
purer."

"Yes, Prince, and not only among those who are royal. Still, I think it
an evil custom."

"As I do, since the race wherein it is practised grows ever weaker
in body and in mind; which is why, perhaps, my father is not what his
father was and I am not what my father is."

"Also, Prince, it is hard to mingle the love of the sister and of the
wife."

"Very hard, Ana; so hard that when it is attempted both are apt to
vanish. Well, our mothers having been true royal wives, though hers died
before mine was wedded by my father, Pharaoh desires that I should
marry my half-sister, Userti, and what is worse, she desires it also.
Moreover, the people, who fear trouble ahead in Egypt if we, who alone
are left of the true royal race born of queens, remain apart and she
takes another lord, or I take another wife, demand that it should be
brought about, since they believe that whoever calls Userti the Strong
his spouse will one day rule the land."

"Why does the Princess wish it--that she may be a queen?"

"Yes, Ana, though were she to wed my cousin, Amenmeses, the son of
Pharaoh's elder brother Khaemuas, she might still be a queen, if I chose
to stand aside as I would not be loth to do."

"Would Egypt suffer this, Prince?"

"I do not know, nor does it matter since she hates Amenmeses, who is
strong-willed and ambitious, and will have none of him. Also he is
already married."

"Is there no other royal one whom she might take, Prince?"

"None. Moreover she wishes me alone."

"Why, Prince?"

"Because of ancient custom which she worships. Also because she knows
me well and in her fashion is fond of me, whom she believes to be a
gentle-minded dreamer that